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WAM Information |
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1. WHAT
IS WILDSIDE/ADVENTURELAND/MADHOUSE? Our youth
kindergarten through 12th grade meets on Wednesdays, 5:15 to 7:30, weather
permitting. However,
WAM! is not just another youth program. It is unique in that it is
"commitment based" and frankly requires a priority value for
participation. WAM! is not for everybody. It recognizes that not all
persons will make the necessary commitment to be involved. It is not
possible to have an excellent orchestra without the discipline of regular,
required rehearsals. It is not possible to have a superb football team
without disciplined conditioning and practice. It is not possible to do a
job of quality nurturing in the Christian experience and biblical faith
apart from discipline and commitment. This is the foundation upon which
WAM! is founded. We believe it is worth what it costs. WAM!
developed from a concept of youth education first put to use in the early
1940's in 2.
THE PURPOSE OF WILDSIDE/ADVENTURELAND/MADHOUSE --To
create an understanding and desire for accepting Christ as Lord and
personal Savior. --To
develop intelligent, active, and loyal membership and leadership in the
church. --To give
worthwhile study, wholesome recreation and opportunities for service-all
bound up in a true Christian fellowship. --To
develop the kind of Christians who are able and willing to communicate
their faith and to assume personal responsibility in assisting in the
building of God's Kingdom on earth. --To enable young people to face the inevitable moral trials and assaults on Christian faith with spiritual fiber and conviction. 3.
THE STANDARDS OF WILDSIDE/ADVENTURELAND/MADHOUSE -The age
level of the program is kindergarten through 12th grade. -Proclaiming
the Gospel is done through Bible study, youth dramas & band, 4.
WILDSIDE/ADVENTURELAND/MADHOUSE PROGRAM OUTLINE A. Bible
Study - Living as Children of God
The goal
of Bible Study is to nurture youth into intelligent, obedient, and
biblically-informed discipleship. WAM! offers a program of Bible Study.
This is the heart of the program designed to train young people to be
intelligent, committed, concerned Christian men and women. The minister
and trained lay persons teach the study courses. B.
Serving God through Worship
WAM!
members have opportunity to participate in youth oriented worship time.
The focus of the worship time is to allow the youth members to participate
in the worship service and to experience music or drama as an enhancement
for worship and praise. Theme oriented worship will include praise time, a
message via drama or video, and group prayer. C.
Activity/Playtime - Building Relationships with Others
The goal
of activity time is to experience great fun at the expense of no one else.
It is here that youth get to practice the Christian principles that they
are learning through crafts, games, and other activities. D. Family
Time (Dinner)
The goal
of Family Time is to provide a joyous, intergenerational celebration of
personhood over a shared meal as we experience being a family of God. Each
Wednesday evening WAM! members eat dinner together. One table parent
serves at each table and interact with the youth. Family Time begins with
a prayer and ends with a table game that involves each table in a creative
activity. 5. BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Curriculum changes each year, but is age-relevant and Bible based. 6.
REGISTRATION PROCEDURE A.
Attendance at the parent's meeting. B.
Filling out the WAM! Registration Card at the Parent's Meeting. C.
Parents are required to sign up for some type of supporting participation
in the WAM! program for the coming year (See Parent Participation below). D.
Payment of fees. 7.
REGISTRATION FEES AND PAYMENTS
The WAM! year
follows the public school year and is divided into two semesters. The cost
for all students is $40.00 per semester. This fee covers much of the
expense for materials, supplies, and meals. Parents may pay the WAM! fees
for the entire year ($80.00 per student) at the beginning of the year OR
$40.00 at the beginning of the year and $40.00 at the beginning of the
second semester.
Parents
who have three or more youth registered in WAM! may be interested in THE
FAMILY PLAN. The maximum any family must pay is $100.00 per semester or
$200.00 per year, regardless of the number of children registered. (Of
course, if you would like to pay the full amount for three or more
children, it would be most difficult to turn down such a generous offer!) 8.
FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE
WAM! will turn
no one away because of inability to pay the registration fees. Parents can
make arrangements with the minister to receive financial assistance for
any or all of the registration fee. However, there will be a minimum $5.00
per child fee for each semester. 9.
PARENT PARTICIPATION
The WAM! program
enables parents to fulfill their Christian obligation to their youth.
Parents are to assist their youth with assignments, counsel with them,
encourage regular participation in church activities, and to rear them in
"the nurture (love) and admonition (law) of the Lord".
Active
participation by at least one parent of every youth in WAM! is required.
Because the staff is primarily volunteer, part-time service by a large
number of people is essential to keep the many activities going. At least
as important, however, is the "morale boosting" effect of the
parents' physical presence and visible support of the program from time to
time. This is a vital element in the successful operation of WAM!.
At the parents
meeting, each parent will have an opportunity to sign-up for the form of
participation of his/her choice. Each parent is required to sign up for at
least four nights per semester. 10.
OPPORTUNITIES FOR PARENTAL PARTICIPATION A.
Kitchen & Dining Room Helpers
You will serve
under the direction of the head of the kitchen team leader. You will
assist in the table set up, cooking, serving, and cleanup. Each parent is
responsible for being present at his/her scheduled hours, or exchanging
with another parent for a different day. Schedules are sent out far enough
in advance for such arrangements to be made.
If for some
reason you are unable to fulfill your kitchen responsibilities, please
contact the B. Table
Parents
Table parents
are present each week at the dinner hour. Each Table Parent is responsible
for the supervision of a table. Six or fewer students are assigned to each
table and share dinner weekly as a "family". Table parents
should be in the dining room approximately ten minutes prior to the dinner
hour and remain until the dinner hour dismissal time. It is
important that Table Parents notify the C. Play
Time/Activity Leaders
Special activity
leaders direct or assist in the recreation program for young people. A
play time leader is a good role model of Christianity in action. D.
Worship Assistants
Assistants are
needed by the Worship leaders on a weekly basis. Depending on the theme of
worship, he or she operates video equipment, assists during prayer time
and praise time, generally helping things run smoothly. E.
Classroom Assistants
Assistants are
needed by the Bible teachers to help with classroom work on a weekly
basis. Depending on the teacher with whom an assistant works, he or she
takes attendance, passes out books, checks assignments and assists as
needed. 11.DISCIPLINE
AT WILDSIDE/ADVENTURELAND/MADHOUSE
"Treat each
person as a child of God". This is the WAM! motto, and is the
foundation for the expectations of behavior and discipline in WAM!.
Members are expected to treat one another with love and respect at all
times.
Cooperation
with all members of the staff and other WAM! members should be stressed by
the parents at home. General demeanor at WAM! should reflect Christian
thought and concern for others. Courtesy is expected at all times, whether
the student is engaged in study or play.
Disciplinary
problems will be dealt with as quickly and creatively as possible, as they
are detrimental to the progress of the entire class and sometimes to the
safety and well-being of other students. Parents will be notified if their
child is creating a problem. 12.
BEHAVIOR AT THE DINNER HOUR
Table
Parents, each of whom supervises one table during the dinner hour, expect
courtesy and cheerful assistance from the young people at their table.
-Good
table manners are a must. "Please" and "Thank you" are
expected. Unpleasant eating habits will be corrected and boisterous
behavior will not be tolerated. Out of respect and courtesy for the cooks,
WAM! members are expected to try at least one bite of the food served in
order to receive dessert. The Table Leader functions as host,
disciplinarian, teacher, and friend, and needs to be treated with respect
and courtesy. -The
signal for silence, either at one table or throughout the room is a raised
hand. Courteous quiet will be maintained during the after-dinner programs
or when someone is addressing the group. -
WAM! members are asked to remain at their tables in the dining room until
dismissal,
unless specifically and personally excused by the Dinner Dean. -Table
Parents check attendance and assign serving and clean-up duties on a 13. CAR
POOLS
Car pools
will be arranged by the parents, if desired. 14.
ARRANGEMENTS FOR VISITORS
WAM!
members are encouraged to include visitors. Upon arrival at the Visitors are expected to stay with the WAM! member who brings them throughout the entire program scheduled for that particular evening. They should be properly introduced to class members, teachers, and table leaders. The person bringing the visitor is responsible for the visitor's conduct at all times.-
Visitors
may attend WAM! twice during the course of a semester. If they wish to be
enrolled and if there is room in the class, they will need to join. 15.
HOW TO HELP YOUR YOUTH IN WILDSIDE/ADVENTURELAND/MADHOUSE A. Insist
upon regular attendance in WAM!, and in worship on Sunday morning. B. Ask
your youth about his/her Bible class and go over any handouts that your
youth brings home. This is a wonderful opportunity for you to nurture your
youth in the Christian faith. Assignments to be done at home often include
reading in the Bible. C. Remind
your youth to bring his or her Bible each week. Since the study is Bible
centered, it is impossible to have a class study without Bibles. We
encourage the use of Good News Bibles, this translation is easy for youth
to understand. D. Fulfill your commitment in your assigned area of WAM!. Volunteer staff members in WAM! are working for their Lord in committing this time for the development of young people, and you, by giving of your time, can render a vital service to our youth E.
Arrange prompt payment of WAM! fees. F.
Participate in and encourage daily Bible reading and prayer at home.
Devotional materials especially helpful for families is available. Regular
Bible reading and prayer must be done in the home. It is not easy to
establish such a habit, but a regular time set aside each day will help.
Meal times or just before bed often prove to be the times most easily
kept. Some of the Bible assignments may be used at this time. This page was last updated on 01/12/2006.
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